ALABAMA KIDNEY FOUNDATION HIRES DIRECTOR
The Alabama Kidney Foundation (AKF) is pleased to announce the hire of Pamela Sparks as the Middle Alabama Regional Director. Pam will oversee local special events, including the annual Kidney Walk, and programs provided to kidney patients in the region. Pam and her family recently moved to the Montgomery area from Huntsville, Ala. Pam has a vast background in marketing and public relations. Most recently, Pam worked at Huntsville Hospital for nine years. The Alabama Kidney Foundation is excited for Pam to join the organization and assist with increasing kidney disease awareness and broadening our reach to kidney patients in the area.
NEW ALFA INSURANCE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTS ANGELA COONER BRADWELL & SCOTT FORREST
Bradwell serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel while Forrest oversees human resources and financial operations as Executive Vice President of Administration. The move formalizes Alfa Executive Leadership Team, which also includes Executive Vice President of Operations Steve Rutledge, Executive Vice President of Marketing Al Dees and Alabama Farmers Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan. Bradwell joined Alfa in 1997 as Assistant General Counsel. In 2005, she was promoted to Vice President and Associate General Counsel with responsibility for corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, investments, accounting, regulatory compliance, real estate, human resources, employee benefits and agent issues. She was named General Counsel in 2014.Forrest joined Alfa in 1992 as a Tax Specialist. He was promoted to Manager of Compensation in 1995 and to Vice President, Compensation, Benefits and HRIS in 2001. In 2013, he was named Senior Vice President of Human Resources and assumed leadership for the Finance Department earlier this year.
ALISA KOCH JOINS STEINHILBER & STRAWBRIDGE AS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Koch is an Alabama native and Montgomery resident since 1991. Alisa is driven by a desire to secure a valuable commercial insurance program and service for clients. She will continue to serve in her role as the Executive Secretary for the Montgomery Art Guild.
THOMPSON INSURANCE WELCOMES JAMES A. GUNN
Thompson Insurance is pleased to announce that James A. (Drew) Gunn has joined the firm as an account executive. Drew is a Montgomery, Ala., native, graduating from St. James High School and the University of Alabama. Previously, Drew was employed with a digital advertising agency. He was responsible for accessing customer needs and implementation of digital brand promotion through web based initiatives and including social media. At Thompson, Drew will utilize his technological knowledge and sales skills for account development and service of Thompson Insurance's clients. Drew will be based out of the firms Birmingham, Ala., office.
DEREK TROTTER JOINS BUTLER SNOW
Butler Snow is pleased to announce Derek Trotter has joined the firm as a government relations advisor in its Montgomery office. Trotter will practice with Butler Snow's regulatory and government relations team. Derek's background in government relations is impressive, said chairman of Butler Snow Don Clark, Jr. He understands Alabama's government. His experience will greatly benefit our team and our clients in Alabama. Trotter brings extensive experience in communications and legislative affairs to Butler Snow. Most recently, he served as director of legislative affairs for the office of Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley.
SCOTT BLAKE JOINS USAMERIBANK
Alexander City native Scott Blake has joined USAmeriBank as Residential Mortgage Production Manager for Central Alabama, bringing more than 25 years of experience to the bank. Blake has worked specifically in mortgage lending since 2000, most recently as a senior mortgage lender with Renasant Bank in Alexander City. He was previously with USAmeriBank as a mortgage loan specialist. In his new role as Residential Mortgage Production Manager, he oversees several loan officers, and manages an area that includes Alexander City, Auburn and Montgomery.
EDMONDS NAMED GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHERN ALABAMA'S CEO
Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama's Board of Directors is excited to announce that Karlyn Edmonds has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Karlyn brings 14 years of Girl Scout experience to this position, having previously served as Development Director and later Chief Operations Officer for the legacy council, South Central Alabama. For the last nine years, she's worked as GSSA's Chief Operating Officer. She also has served for the past two years as co-director of Camp Sunshine, a Girl Scout outreach summer camp that serves Montgomery girls that live in public housing. Karlyn says her goal as CEO is to maximize the Girl Scout experience for many girls. I have a passion for our mission, and know that Girl Scouting changes lives—be it girls from Butler in a rural grant program, traditional troops in Mobile or Montgomery, in-school Girl Scouting programs in Beauregard or Rockford, or Camp Sunshine, a well-recognized initiative for girls in public housing communities.
GIFT OF LIFE FOUNDATION HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Cheryl Davis was recently named the new executive director of the Gift of Life (GOL) Foundation, a leading provider of family coaching programs, prenatal, early child educational and family support services for at-risk women. GOL's goal is to lower the community's infant mortality rate. Davis brings to the position nearly 35 years of professional experience as a health educator, program administrator, and advocate for broadening access to quality care for underserved communities. Prior to coming to GOL, Dr. Davis was the associate dean for strategic initiatives and external relations for the College of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee University, and managed a combined budget of over $10 million.
BRENT TEEL JOINS STARKE AGENCY
The Starke Agency, Inc., Montgomery's oldest independent insurance agency, is pleased to announce the recent hire of Brent Teel as their newest addition to the Starke family as a Risk Consultant. As we aim for organic growth through the following years, we believe Brent's prior business-to-business sales experience here in Montgomery make this a natural career transition for him. His outgoing personality and reputation for outstanding service will ensure Starke Agency clients insurance and risk management needs are met for years to come, said Sales & Marketing Director, Mark J. Ludick. Teel is a native of Montgomery where he attended Alabama Christian Academy through high school and graduated from Faulkner University.
